Machine for sewing looped fabrics.



E. E. RANDALL.

MACHINE FOR SEWING LOOPED FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I9. 1915.

L205,1 Q7. Patented Nov. 14, 1916 1 F1 Q. \a I!) 27 \4 O I I6 1 2 Q 7 a Q a lnvenfor.

Edison ERunduH,

- Alb S.

isomer.

EDISON E. RANDALL, or KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR SEWING LOOIEED FABRICS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDIsoN E. RANDALL, a citizen-of the United States, residing at Kankakee, county of Kankakee, State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Sewing Looped Fabrics, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a machine for uniting or sewing together the edges of knitted' goods or looped fabrics, and as herein illustrated is particularly designed for sewing together the edges of suchiarticles as stockings, as when the separately knit foot and leg portion are to be united, or as when the stocking is knit upon a circular knitting machine beginning at the toe, and the edges at the toe have to be united to complete the stocking. Machines v of-this general type and of various forms arewell knownin the art and usually comprise an intermittently rotating work supporting ring carrying a circular series of radially projecting impaling pins upon -which the edges of the knit or looped fabric to be united are superposed and placed together with stitch forming mechanism which places a line of stitching immediately above the impaling pins in the projecting- The articles'thus to be edges of the fabri' stitched together are placed successively upon the impaling pinsby the hand of the operative and owing to the exigencies of the work and the continuous operation of the machine the distance between the articles thus successively placed upon the impaling pins o the work. If this projecting thread is left varies to a-considerable degree. It is necesiO sary, of course, to sever the stitching thread extending from one article to the next, and

this has heretofore been done both by hand and by mechanisrnsprovided for that purpose. But in neither case has the result been entirely satisfactory.

It is essential that the stitching thread projecting at'e'ach side'of the sewed article too short it will ravel back and leave a hole. If it is left too long it is objectionable in appearance and uncomfortable to the wearer of the article. The United States Government recognizes theimportance of the length Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 14, 1916..

Application filedNovember is, 1915. Serial m. 62,406.

of the uniting thread by requiring in stocklngs furnished the Army that these ends shall not vary materially from 1}. Y

It is the object ofthe present invention to prov de a simple and eflicient automatic mechanism as Y a part of the machine which shall obviate all these difliculties, and shall insure the severance of to leave a uniform and of projecting end.

The invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will 'be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawings represent so much of an ordinary form of machine for sewing looped fabrics as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention together with a predetermined length TO PARAMOUNT KNITTING the uniting thread i preferred form of mechanism embodying the known. The base 1 of the machine is usually secured to a suitable table or bench and carries the main shaft 2 from which the various mechanisms of the machine'are operated and to which power is applied through a suitable pulley'3. An outwardly projecting overhanging arm 4; rises from the base 1 and carries depending therefrom at its outer end a stud 5 to which is rigidly secured the ring frame or support 6. The ring 7 is rotarily mounted upon the ring support and given an intermediate rotary movement by a pawl 8 operated from the main shaft 2 all in a well known manner The impaling pins 9 are of the usual form and are arranged on the ring 7 to project radially thereof. These pins are of sufficient length to hold the meshes of the edges of the given article such as a stocking which are to be united, and the operative places the articles successively upon these impaling pins leaving a more or less irregular portion projectingthereabove, and placing the articles at various distances apart. A trimming mechanism comprising the horizontally movable trimming blades 10 operated from' aneccentrie 11 on the main shaft au-' tomatica'lly trims off the upwardly projecting edges leaving only a suflicient portlon'.

projecting to be caught and united by the stitching mechanism.

In the construction illustrated the impaling pin rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 and the article on the impahng pm after it passes through the trimmers 19 is brought into the field of action of the stitch forming mechanism which may be of any suitable type, and is herein shown as comprising a needle arm 12 with itsneedle 1-3 operated from, the main shaft of the machine, and suitable complemental mechanism. This stitch forming mechanism places a line of stitching in the projecting edges .of the articles upon the impaling pins immediately above the impaling pins. Frequently this mechanism operates with an relatively movable shearing blades the field over-edge stitch but in any event the portion of the article projecting above theimpaling pin when stitched togetherforms a welt or welt-like portion. threads carried by the stitch forming mechanism extend continuously from one article to another just above the impaling pins. I

The cutting mechanism of this invention, a preferred form of which as hereln 1llus-.

trated 'as located at any suitable point beyond the stitch forming mechanism, may be supported from any'suitable portion of the machine and operated from any suitable moving part of the machine, and is operated continuously. I

A bracket 14 is herein shown as supporting the cutting mechanism and is shown as secured by screws directly to the ring support 6. This bracket extends radially outward. For convenience this outwardly projecting arm is made in two parts held together by the screws 15 an'dthe part 16 has formed integrally therewith a transversely extending hub or bearing-17.

The cutting mechanism comprises two preferably of.action of which is located above the-line of stitching in the stitched portion or the welt 18 formed thereby immediately above the impaling' pins, and means are provided for raising or lifting the thread extending from thestitched portion above theline 'of stitching or welt into the fieldof action of the cutting mechanism. In the preferred form of construction illustrated this result is secured by an inner shearing blade fixed and extending down close to the impaling pins behind the welt while a second movable or pivoted cooperating shearing blade moves back and forth above the line of stitching or welt while an instrumentality thereintermed a thread lifter moves intermittently with the The thread or 7 shearing blade.

movable sharing blade toward and from the movable with the movable shearing blades toward and from the base of the impaling pins to crowd up and maintain the stitched portion against the impaling ring.

' The one shearing blade 19 which is preferably fixed or stationary in the form shown is mounted on the part 16 of the bracket arm so that'it extends radiallyof the impaling pins, stands in a vertical plane, and with its edge extending upwardly from a point. behind the welt. 18 immediately above the impaling pins. This blade may be adjustable'to provide for wear and for that purpose is mounted on a pin 20 and held in place by. a set screw 21. The movable shearing blade 22 is pivotally mounted by being secured to a shaft 23 mounted in the bearing hub 17 This shearing'blade .is at its cutting or effective 'edge shorter than the blade 19 and of such a length that as it swings back andv forth it passes above the line of stitching or the welt 18 so that the field of action of the cutting'mechanism is atall times'above the welt 18.- The movement of the movable shearing blade is secured by rockingthe shaft 23. For this purpose a hub 24 is secured by the set screw 25 to the shaft23 and is provided-with an upwardly projecting-arm26 connected by a link 27 to some moving part of the machine, such-for ex:

ample as the pawl 8.

The thread lifter is=herein shown as a V finger 28 loosely pivoted on the shaft 23 and held in place by the set screw 29. This lifteris of such a length as in its movement the machine, such as the part 16 of the ibracket arm, and it is moved outwardly or to'pass' close above the impaling pin and 1113 the opposite direction by the 'movable,

For the. latter purpose a portion of the lifter is bent laterally at 32 to engage the shearing blade 22.

The operation of this cuttingmechanism will nowbe apparent. After the fabric on the impaling pins has been trimmed off by the trimmers and stitched by the stitching mechanism thus forming the slightly projecting stitched portion or we1t18 it passes to the cutting ;mechanism. Preferably means are also provided for insuring. and maintaining. the .position of the stitched fabric on the impaling pins upagainst the periphery of the impaling ring. For this purpose a pusher is shown consisting of'a metal blade or finger 33'secured to the hub 2i and bent downwardly extending tangentially and so positioned that as the hub and shearing blade and pusher push inwardly the pusher will crowd the welt inwardly .mechanism and thestitched portion or welt "18. projects immediately in front of the lower edge of the fixed shearing blade 19.

The shaft 23 being in continuous intermittent vibration the movable shearing blade 22 and the lifter 28 swinggtoward and from the fixed shearing blade, the movable shearing blade passing above the welt 18 and thelifter striking against the'welt and being restrained thereby against the action of the spring 30. This action continues until the stitched portion or welt 18 has passed out from the'path of the lifter 28 whereupon at the next inward swing of the lifter, there being no'stitched portion or welt to restrain its movement; the lifter vibration of the lifter after the welt has passed, it will certainly be raised and sev-,

continues its movement passing under the projecting thread .and past the fixed shearing blade 19 thus lifting the thread upwardly upon its inclined edge into the field of action of the cutting mechanism, and as the edge of the movable cutting blade follows immdiately after the projecting point: of the lifter the thread is at once severed." Owing'to the repeated action of the mechanismv ifjfor any reason the thread should not be lifted and severed at the, first ered upon a subsequent operation. The cutting mechanism continues to operate and sever any projecting end until the next article is reached when as the welt of'the next .article passes into the path of the lifterthe lifter is again restrained and the cutting op eration prevented. Thusit. will be seen that owing to the position of the lifter with respect to the cutting blades the projectingv ends of the thread aresevered at'substantia'lly equal and uniform d stances from the finished article because the point at which the thread shall be severed is determined by the stitched pdrtion of the article itself.

Having fully described my invention,,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support, impaling pins arranged thereomstitch formpaled looped fabrics by forminga line of stitching therein above the impaling pins, and continuously operated mechanism acting to raise the thread extending from the stitched portion above the line where the stitching is formed and'then to sever the said thread.

Q. A machine for sewing'looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support, impaling pins arranged thereon, stitch form ing mechanism for securing together the impaled looped fabrics by forming a line of stitching therein above the impaling pins, continuously operated cutting mechanism having its field of action located immediately above the line of stitching, and means to raise the thread extending from the stitched portion into the field. of action of the cutting mechanism.

-3. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support, impaling-pins arranged thereon. stitch forming mechanism for securing together the impaled looped fabrics by forming a' line of stitching therein above the impaling pins,

'ing upon engagement with the stitchedportion but otherwise acting to raise the thread extending from the stitched portion into the field of action of the cutting mechanism.

l. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a frame, an impaling pin support movably mounted thereon, impaling pins arranged on said support, stitch forming mechanism/ for securing together the impaled looped fabrics by forming a. .line of stitching therein above the impaling pins, a fixed shearing-blade mounted vertically on the frame and extending down to a point in the rear of the path ,of the stitched por tion,. a continuously operated cooperating shearing. blade" movable abovethe path of said stitched portion, and an outwardly yielding lifter movable with said movable shearing blade extending down into the path of said stitched portion whereby. it is restrained from movement by contact with said stitched portion but otherwise acts to raise the thread extending from the stitched portion into the field of action of the shear ing blades.

A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support, impaling pins arranged thereon, stitch forming mechanism for securing together the. impaled looped fabrics and forming a welt therein above the impaling pins, a fixed shearing blade having its edge located in 'the rear of and extending above the said welt. a codperating shearing blade mounted to move above the welt toward and from thus'cooperate with said first shearing blade, and a thread lifter mounted to move toward and from the, first shearing blade and, when not restrained. by contact with the welt, to lift the thread above the welt into the field of action of the shearing blades. j

- 6. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a ring support, a ring rotarily mounted thereon, impaling pins arranged on said ring, stitch forming mechanism for securing together the impaled looped fabrics .by forming a line of stitching therein above the impaling pins, a vertically and radlally ls'disposed fixed shearing blade mounted on the ring support with its edge in therear of and extending above said stitched portion, a

cooperating shearing blade pivotally mounted on the ring support and swinging above said stitched portion, means for continuously swinging said pivoted blade, and a pivotally mounted thread lifter yieldingly held toward the fixed blade and movable outwardly by the pivotal blade and extending into the path of the stitched portion whereby it is restrained from lnward movement by contact with said stitched portion when opposite said stitched portion but otherwise acts to lift the thread above the stitched portion into the field of action of the shearing blades.

' 7. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a ring support, a ring rotarily mounted thereon, impaling pins arranged on said ring, stitch forming mechanism for securing together the impaled looped. fabrics by forming aline of stitching therein above the impaling pins, a vertically and radially disposed fixed shearing blade mounted on 40 the ring support with its edge in the rear of and extending above said stitched portion, a cooperating shearing blade'pivotally mounted on the ring support and swinging above saidstitched portion, means for continuously swinging said pivoted blade, and

means for causing the thread extending from the stitched portion when the stitched portion is out of line with said pivoted blades to be raised into the field of action of the said blades and thus severed thereby.

8. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a ring support, a ring rotarily mounted thereon, impaling pins arranged on said ring, stitch forming mechanism acting to secure together the' impaled looped fabrics by forming a stitched welt therein immediately above the impaling pins, a fixed shearing blade mounted on the ring support vertically and radially thereon, and extending down to a point in the rear of the path of the said welt. a continuously operated cooperating shearing blade movable above the path of said welt, and an outwardly yielding thread lifter movable with said movable v shearing blade, extending down into the engagement with the stitched-portion but path of said Welt whereby it is restrained from movement by contact with said welt, but otherwise acts to raise the thread extending from the welt into the field of action of the shearing blades.

stitching is formed and a part acting then to 30 sever the said thread.

10. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support,

impaling pins arranged thereon, stitch forming mechanism for securing together the impaled looped fabrics by forming a line of stitching therein above the impaling pins,- cutting mechanism having its field of action located immediately above the line of stitch ing, and means to raise the threadextending from the stitched portion'into the field of action of the cutting mechanism.

11. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support,

impaling pins arranged thereon, stitch forming mechanism for securing together the iml-paled looped fabrics by forming a line of stitching therein above the impaling pins, cutting mechanism having its field of action located immediately above the line of stitching, and a yielding thread lifter yielding upon engagement with the stitched portion but otherwise acting to raise the thread extending from the stitched portion into the field of action of the cutting mechanism.

12. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support,

impaling pins arrangedthereon, stitch form-' ing mechanism for securing together the impaled looped fabrics by forming a line of stitching therein above the impaling pins, cutting'mec'hanism having its field of action located immediately. above the line of stitch ing, .a yielding thread lifter yielding upon otherwise acting to raise the thread extending from the stitched portion into the field of action of the cutting mechanism, a pusher, and means for intermittently moving it toto maintainthe stitched portion against the impaling pin support.

18. A machinefor sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support,

impaling pins arranged thereon, stitch 12 'forming mechanism for securlng together the impaled looped fabricsby forminga line of stitching therein above the impaling pins,

continuously operated cutting mechanlsm ward and from the base of thevimpaling pins having its field of action located immedi ately above the line of stitching, and a conmoving it toward and from the base of the impaling pins to maintain the stitched portion against the impaling pin support.

14. A machine for sewing looped fabrics comprising a movable impaling pin support, impaling pins arranged thereon, stitch formmg mechanism for securing together the impaled looped fabrics and forming a welt therein above the impaling pins, a fixed a thread lifter mounted to move toward and from the first shearing blade and, when not restrained by contact with the welt, to lift the thread above the welt into the field of action of the shearing blades, and a pusher connected to and movable With said movable shearing blade to maintain the welt against the impaling pin support.

p In t stimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' EDISON E. RANDALL. 

